Mullion construction



Dec. 1, 1942. r P. E. KNUDSEN 03,

MULLION CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 29, 1939 awutwvbo'o Payee Y E? mews/v @ew/f it-1 (Viv/mg Patented Dec. 1, 1942 a UNITED STATES MULLION CONSTRUCTION Percy E. Knudsen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,560. Divided and this application October 31, 1940, Serial No. 363,609

4 Claims. 01. 72-42) The present invention is a division of my copending application Serial No. 311,560, filedDecember 29, 1939.

The invention relates to a mullion structure suitable for use between a series of glass block panels.

One object of the invention is to provide a relatively strong and rugged mullion structure suitable for use as a reinforcing element between a pair of relatively large panels of glass blocks.

A second object of the invention is toprovide a mullion structure of the foregoing type, which in the main can be assembled from stock materials.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent'from consideration of the following specification and the appended claims.

The use of hollow glass blocks as structural elements in the fabrication of building walls has relatively recently been proposed and is now enjoying extensive application. The blocks possess the advantage of transparency or translucency and at the same time the cavities within the blocks constitute dead air chambers which impart to walls fabricated from the blocks a high resistance to the transmission of heat. Walls formed in the blocks of necessity are of restricted thickness and therefore resistance to forces exerted perpendicularly to the face is low.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a mullion construction for use between such panels, which mullion is designed to act as a, reinforcement to maintain the panels in position.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the drawing in which the single figure is a fragmentary crosssectional view of a mullion embodying the features of the invention.

In the drawing like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

A core or reinforcement for the mullion construction includes a main bar or web 2, welded or otherwise secured at its edges to webs 3 of a pair of inwardly facing channels 4, the edges of the flanges 5 of each channel being substantially spaced with respect to the edges of the corresponding flanges of the other channel. The core thus constitutes a modified I beam.

The core is covered by a sheathing 6, including a pair of members 7 and 8 of identical section and each including a groove portion 9 comprising against a face of bar 2 with side wall portions ll bearing against the edges of flanges 5.

Portions l2 of the sheathing elements are also bent over to bear against the faces of the flanges and have offset portions [3. The latter provide juxtaposed flanges It. The latter are joined by channels 19. approximately of 0 section, which are slid longitudinally into place after elements I and 8 are disposed in place upon the central core. One or both facings may be provided with a covering designed to provide insulation for the metal or to enhance the appearance of the assembly.

Each of the panels 15 is formed of hollow glass blocks ll of conventional design and having spaced peripheral shoulders 22 that form shallow channels designed to receive mortar layer 23 or other bonding agent.

Means for anchoring the edges of the panels include straps or bars 24 of relatively heavy metal, e. g. metal of T% or A; inch thickness and including cut-out portions 25 designed to reduce heat transmission and also to provide keys for the mortar. These bars are provided at their outer extremities with projecting tongues 26, which as shown extend through openings or between sections of the resilient packings I4, such as layers of compressed cork disposed in channels l3a, and fit snugly into grooves 9 to anchor the panel from displacement by thrusts exerted perpendicularly thereto. The anchorages, however, leave the panel free to expand or to contract with changes of temperature and also allow disa bottom or intermediate portion l0 bearing imposing strain upon the blocks.

Wire reinforcements 21 may alsobe embedded in the mortar to strengthen the panel.

The spaces between shoulders 22 of the blocks and portions it of the sheathings are packed with caulking compound 28 or other material which is yieldable and will provide a seal for the packings I4.

The construction shown is strong and efficient and can be assembled with but little labor from a few simple shapes, many of which are conventional.

The form of the invention herein disclosed is to be considered merely as exemplary. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein Without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mullion for use between two contiguous panels of glass blocks in a building wall, whichmullion comprises a pair of channel bars disposed in spaced parallel relation with their flanges projecting inwardly toward each other, a web bar interconnecting the webs of the channel bars and a covering of sheet metal disposed about the whole, which covering is bent to provide channels constituting seats for the margins of the panel, the bottom portions of the latter channels being disposed upon the flanges of the channel bars.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 in which the bottom portions of the covering channels are bent to provide groove portions disposed between the flanges of the channel bars to receive the ends of anchor. elements projecting from the edges of glass block panels.

3. In combination a pair of panels of glass blocks and a mullion between the two panels, said mullion comprising a core approximately of I beam section, the plane of the flanges of the beam being approximately parallel to the planes of the panels, a sheathing for the core, said sheathing comprising channel elements receiving packings against which the edges of the panels bear, the bottom portions of the channels being bent to provide groove portions and anchor elements embedded in the joints between the blocks in the panels and having projecting ends extending into the groove portions.

4. In a building construction, a pair of panels of glass blocks, a mullion between the panels, which mullion comprises a web member interconnecting the webs of two channels facing toward each other, the channels having flanges, the flanges of one channel being spaced with respect to the corresponding flanges of the other, anchor elements disposed between the block in the panels and having projecting end portions disposed between said spaced flanges.

PERCY E. KNUD SEN. 

